Saved! Stafford Cinema to reopen in weeks

AJH Cinema will run the historic venue, which was left facing an uncertain future after closing at the end of last year.

But fears the three-screen cinema, on Newport Road, would be left to fall into ruin have been swept away by the arrival of the firm.

AJH Cinema aim to compete with a new complex being built just yards away in Bridge Street as part of the new Riverside development in Stafford.

Minor works need to be carried out before the building can re-open but Anthony Harris, from AJH, said he was hopeful the cinema would be back up and running as early as this month.

The boss of the Cheshire-based firm said he was confident the venture would be a success and said he is not worried about competition from the new cinema, which is taking shape up the road.

He revealed he intends to keep prices low in an effort to attract customers.

Mr Harris said: “I’ve got quite a lot of films lined up.

“We have had the heating engineers in there this week.

“It’s just a case of dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s.

“I have been in the trade for many, many years and I just knew it was lying there doing nothing.

"Our prices will be a lot cheaper and there will be plenty of popcorn and sweets as usual.”

Boost

Property agent Millar Sandy confirmed the 800-seat cinema had been let to AJH.

The cinema was marketed with an annual rent of £45,000.

Councillor Christine Baron said the rescue of Stafford's cinema, which dates back to the 1930s, was a huge boost for the town.

She said: "I was absolutely delighted when I heard. It really was in a bad state so it's great someone has come in and is having the work done.

"A town without a cinema, especially a county town, is a disgrace.

"It's fantastic for the town that is isn't going to be left to rack and ruin and it isn't going to open as a restaurant or something else - it is going to be a cinema."

Councillor Baron said she believed the two cinemas would be able to successfully co-exist in Stafford.

"I don’t see why they shouldn’t go hand in glove,” she said.

Work is continuing to progress of Stafford’s new cinema, which will feature six screens and 800 seats.

It is expected to be completed in the summer.

Stafford’s existing cinema on Newport Road was put up for sale in January 2016, around the same time as the new cinema at Riverside was given the green light by the council.

There were fears its closure in December could signal the end for the building as a cinema.